Diclofenac: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory substance Vet diclofenac caused 95-99% decline in Indian Gyps
vultures in 20 years Vet diclofenac in Europe Safe alternative exists Legal availability of diclofenac in Europe causes a
precedent and a conduit for a global boom in veterinary diclofenac worldwide
Diclofenac in Europe – an update
Kidney failure Death within two days LD50 (dose at which half of
the vultures die): 0.098-0.225 mg p.o.
Toxicity up to 1 week after diclofenac treatment
withdrawal periods for diclofenac: 12 days for pigs & 15 days for cattle.
Diclofenac kills vultures
Diclofenac in Europe
Manufactured by Italian company (FATRO) Used in cattle, pigs and horses, subject to veterinary
prescription, and application by veterinaries (intravenous) or under vet supervision (intramuscular)
Used to treat mastitis-metritis on lactating females, respiratory diseases (bronchopneumonia) and pathologies of the muscle-skeleton (tendinitis, myositis, arthritis
First authorised in 1993 (Italy) Since 2009 in a number of countries (Estonia, Czech Republic,
Latvia) 2013 in Spain
Diclofenac in Europe
Between 9,460 and 27,700 animals were treated with diclofenac in Spain during the first year of marketing of this drug alone
10% of diclofenac used in animals in extensive pastures Spanish gov. estimated: 15 – 39 Eurasian griffon vultures
will die /year Green & Margalida (2014): 683-4792/year
Diclofenac in Europe – time line
2009 - Approved in Italy (Reuflogin) 2013 - Approved in Spain (Diclovet & Dolofenac) Dec 2013 – VCF informed Jan 2014 – VCF and other conservation organisations write and meet EU Commission and ask for banning of diclofenac Mar 2014 - VCF & others contact FATRO and asks for voluntary withdrawal of the market – refused 2014 - VCF & others campaign. Press work. Petition (50,000 signatures). IUCN, CMS, WCS, EAZA, SCB, OIE all support campaign
VULTURE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
VULTURE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
Diclofenac in Europe – time line
Aug 2014 - EU Commission asks the European Medicine Agency (EMA) for scientific opinion Oct-Nov 2014 – public consultation and hearing. VCF contributes Dec 2014 - EMA decision
EMA Decision Confirmed risk for vultures and other necrophagous birds in the
European Union Risk identified at two exposure scenarios - feeding stations from
non-slaughterhouse material and fallen stock
EMA Decision
Considers that further regulatory action is needed (e.g. implementation of additional risk management measures)
These are wide ranging, from banning the drug to labelling
EMA could not evaluate the effectiveness of all of the proposed measures as several of them cannot be quantified at present or do not fall within its remit. Therefore, it did not make a recommendation on which of them would be most appropriate.
EMA Decision Annex I Summary of considered risk management measures Information to veterinarians Warnings in the product literature Change in the administration pattern of the VMP Changes in the food chain information Increase controls in farms intentionally leaving dead animals in the field Accompanying of document for by-products Sampling scheme Withdraw diclofenac products from the EU market In conclusion, the EMA was of the opinion that additional risk management measures are needed and efforts should focus on determining the most suitable and effective ones to ensure that contaminated carcasses do not end up in the food chain of vultures and other necrophagous birds.
Diclofenac in Europe – time line
Dec 2014 - EMA decision Feb 2015 – EU Commission decides, after consulting with member states (MS), NOT ban the drug, and asked MS to develop mitigation plans, to submit by April Jun 2015 – National action plans submitted to the EU
National Mitigation Action Plans
1. Information to veterinarians - BG, CZ, LI, PL, ES, SE, IT 2. Warnings in the product literature - BG, CZ, EE, IT, ES, SE, IT 3. Changes in the administration pattern of the VMP - BG, CZ, EE 4. Changes in the food chain information - PT, IT 5. Increase controls in farms intentionally leaving dead animals in the field - PT, IT 6. Accompanying of document for by-products - PT 7. Sampling scheme - HR, CY, ES 8. Withdraw diclofenac products from the EU market - AT, SE
National Mitigation Action Plans - Italy
Italy takes almost no measures. They have amended the labelling – indicating that animals treated cannot be fed to wild fauna and not put on feeding stations, and that animals can only be sent out grazing after the withdrawal period. They also previously send out note to feeding stations and veterinarians
National Mitigation Action Plans - Spain Spain takes even less measures. They have amended the labelling – a general sentence indicating that Diclofenac should not be administered to animals that will be eaten by wild fauna. They send out a note to veterinarians. They are planning to set up a scheme to test sick and dead vultures, but at first will rely on the wildlife rescue centres to provide them with information. Spain explicitly decides not to change the prescription method, as they claim it is not practically possible. They also will not change the Food Chain information and the documentation of byproducts.
Last year´s meeting
Implement public campaign to detect head dropping birds – not done - capacity
Explore diclofenac in water in farms in Spain line – cost!!!
Continue work in press, work with vets and advocacy - ongoing
Diclofenac in Europe – future options
Lobbying/Advocacy Member states to improve action plans Continue to battle for ban Press work
Sampling in the field In Andalucia, only 15% of all tissue vulture corpses taken to centers were tested against diclofenac presence (5 griffons in 2014-2015)
Beyond Diclofenac Vet drugs (NSAIDs, euthanasia agents, antibiotics) -
probably a bigger threat than we think or know – Fluxinin, anti-parasitics
EU risk assessment guidelines + testing toxicity of existing and new drugs on vultures
